FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 125, 27 May 1919, Page 5

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

A CAMPAIOK SUGGESTED. TO INCREASE INFLUENCE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The part the Farmers' Union, should take at the coming elections was stressed by the president at the annual Conference of the Wellington provincial delegates to-day. The next election, he contended, was going to have an important bearing on the future of the Dominion, and he thought the time was ripe for the farming community to bestir itself in order to exert a greater influence on the political arena. Mr. Marshall referred to the steps that were being taken to thoroughly organise in each of the centres, and he hoped that at the time of the election the Union ■would be strong enough in each country constituency to at least impress upon aspiring politicians the fact that they would have the active support or opposition ac the ease might be from a solid body of producers which would materially affect their chances of election. "What right," pertinently asked the speaker, "had a man convicted of breaking the laws of the country, or who had made •uee of disloyal sentiments, to take a seat in Parliament and help to make or revise the laws which govern the community? It must be our aim and object," proceeded the president, "to see that men are elected who have a real interest in the welfare of this country, and who have a pride and inborn love of the glorious Empire of which we form a part. We have nothing to fear from a member who is actuated iby real love of King and Country; but I fear that there is a large admixture of people, chiefly in the cities, who will east their vote in. favour of the loudest demagogue, who will give voice to any wild, untrted, and lawless opinion which he thinks will appeal to an unreasonable mob." Mr. Marshall made a strong appeal for complete and effective organisation among all farmers, so that thie beautiful and bountiful land might be saved from the hande of irresponsible people, who, lie said, wished to force upon others a kind of social terrorism, which, he contended, would paralyse industry and bring ruin to the community. It was obvious, he said, that any movement which interfered with the industries of the country made it 'harder for the people as a whole to live comfortably.